A Times of India story highlighted how Gurgaon schools that opened classes on Monday, January 06, 2014 ignoring a directive of ‘extended winter vacation’ from District Magistrate were closed down hurriedly after the reporter made queries. However, kids in Noida go to school at the same time and parents and teachers seem to be supportive to it. The question arise, is Gurgaon colder than Noida?

Amity International School in Sector 43 Gurgaon is one of the schools that featured in the TOI report for allowing students and teachers to come to the school for ‘clearing doubts’. However Amity International’s NOIDA school was open even on Tuesday with the teachers claiming ‘full attendance’. A teacher on the condition of anonymity clarifies, “The school is open and we see no problem in that. The students seem to be coping up well with the winter and no parents have complained so far. There is no restriction from the District Magistrate too on this issue”

Apparently Gurgaon schools were closed down on a directive from the office of Vandana Gupta, Gurgaon District Education Officer, asking schools to stay shut till 12th January on the pretext of parents complaining about ‘cold and foggy weather. However when asked about whether Noida authorities are thinking on the same lines, PRO of District Magistrate Mr Rakesh Kumar says, “We are not interfering with the duration of winter vacations, and we have left it to the interest of the schools. And we have not received any request from the parents or the school authorities regarding the revision of the duration of winter vacations in Noida Schools.”

Gurgaon Parents pamper kids; Noida prepares for a longer run

The Times of India report quotes an unnamed parent apparently said, “We are still hoping that the school reschedules these exams and lets the kids be at home. It's difficult to prepare for exams when it is so cold”. Another parent ( again unnamed) reportedly said, “"I am praying that they don't start from the 8th, because I'll feel guilty to send my kid to school when I don't want to step out myself.”

While asked to comment on the same issue, Gurmeet Kaur, parent of a student in Noida school said “Most of the schools have opened up only for the secondary wing. Kids of that age are grown up now; they should have the ability to tolerate the cold. Plus they have to complete the syllabus. The board exams won’t reschedule because there were cold weather in north India”. When asked about whether she feels bad to see young kids going to school in ‘cold and foggy’ days, she says, “It is a part of life. It is about getting ready for life. We are also going to office, and we don't have any winter vacations.” And Gurmeet had no qualms about sharing her name unlike the parents who commented for the TOI report.

The mercury reading shows a nearly equal temperature for Noida and Gurgaon on Wednesday. To check weather in Noida, click here and to check weather in Gurgaon, click here.